Process of making removable emanation seeds



April 8, 1930. J. MUIR 1,754,1 7

PROCESS OF MAKING REMOVABLE EMANATION SEEDS Original Filed Jan. 12, 19262 Sheets-Sheet l magi.

IN V EN TOR.

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April 8, 1930., J. MUIR 1,754,178

PROCESS OF MAKING REMOVABLE EMANATION SEEDS Original Filed Janrl2, 192 s2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi .5. Fig.6.

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Patented Apr. 8,1930

f UNITED STATES PAT T OFFICE JOSEPH MUIR, NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR'.I.O Q IZHE RADIUM EHLNATIOH GOBPOBL- TION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,CORPORATION Ol-DELLWABE PROCESS OF MAKING REMOVABLE EHANATIOH SEEDSOriginal application ea January 12, 1928, serial no. ao,as1. Dividedandan: application fled October 7, 1m Serial No. 224,740.

My invention relates to the art of intratumoral radiationof tissue withremovable seeds containing radium emanation.

It has been customary to treat biolo ical tissue with seeds or tubescontaining radium emanation by placing the seedor seeds in the tissueand allowing the former to remain,

therein permanently. In a number of cases, there is no objection topermanently leaving 10 the seeds in the tissue. However, in certaincases, it is highly objectionable to leave foreign bodies such as seedsin the tissue. It has been proposed to allow the seeds to remain in thetissue for a certain length of time, 16 then open up or cut the tissue,thereafter remove the seeds, and then again close the tissue. Obviously,this practice is not desirable and in some cases it is actually harmful.

Intratumoral radiation comprises radia- 20 tion-by burying the seeds intissue so that preferably the seeds are completely surrounded by-thetissue. The seeds may be buried in the diseased tissue itself, oradjacent thereto.

Intratumoral radiation maybe successful- 1y practiced by providing aremovable seed having a permanent withdrawal member, said seed beinadapted to be used in a seed implanting instrument. 1

The present invention relates to the process of making removable seedshaving a permanent withdrawal member attached thereto and is animprovement on the process set forth in my Patent No. 1,655,156, grantedJanuary '3, 1928, for a method of making emanation seeds.

The seed made by the process of the present application may be of metalor its equivalent, which will 'function to absorb undesirable rays.However, in the preferred form the removable seed carrying the permanentwithdrawal member is composite and comprises a met al tube enclosing aglass tube carrying radium emanation, the withdrawal member beingpermanentl attached to the metal tube. In this preferre form theremovable seed filters out the beta rays and allows the gammarays topass. The metal tube may be constructed of any suitable material, suchas platinum, gold, or alloys of either of these metals. It is desired topoint out that my invention in one of its forms contemplates the processof making a tube of a continuous piece of metal closed at both ends andhaving a permanent withdrawal or removal member attached thereto, saidseed being capable of being used in a tube implanting instrument.

Tubes provided with a permanent withdrawal member canbe implanted in deeseated. lesions since they are ada ted to be used with a seed implanterwhere the seed may be implanted at any desired epth. In th1s connectionit may e stated that deepseated lesions and superficial lesions aretreated differently. Applicators may be applied to superficial lesionsor to natural cavities, that is, hollow organs. However, tubes or seedsare used when it'is desired to treat deep-seated lesions which usuallynecessitate implantation by passing through healthy tissue. Theprovision of a continuous metal tube having both of its ends closed andhaving a permanent withdrawal member as a part thereof, enables thetreatment of deepseated lesions without cutting the tissue, and thecontrol of the amount of radium emanation applied to the lesion sincethe seed can be withdrawn at will, whereby the lesion is not subjectedto the permanent presence of the seed. The removable seed may beecogomlilcally made by the method hereinafter set ort In order that myinvention may be clearly understood, it will be described in connectionwith the accompanyingdrawin in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of t e metal tube from which the finished seedis made, together with a work holder therefor.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the metal tube with the ends filed down andheld in a work holder together with a sizing wire and a burnisher.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the metal tube with one of its ends closedaround the sizing wire. r

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the metal tube with the sizing wireremoved.

' Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the metal tube with a thread therein.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the metal tube with the\thread in its finalposition just before the tube is'char ed with radium emanation and itsopen en closed.-

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a metal tube carryin a permanent withdrawalmember and he (1 by a wire holder, the tube being ready to receive aglass emanation seed or container.

Fi 8 is a similar view, showing the glass emanation tube in osition andthe open end of the metal tube a out to be closed.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of a finished composite emanation tubeprovided with a permanent withdrawal or removal member.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a glass tube containing radium emanation.

Fig. 11 is a cross-section through a removable composite seed implantedin tissue, the end of the tube carryin the attached thread or withdrawalmember eing nearer the surface of the tissue than the other end of theseed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tube 1 is placed in a work holder 2 and rotatedabout the axis A-A. While rotating, end 3 of the tube 1 is filed, asshown by the dotted lines, to provide a conical surface 4. Into the openend 3 there is laced a sizing wire 5, one end of the latter eing held inthe chuck 6. As the work holder 2 is rotated, a burnisher 7 is pressedagainst the end of the tube 1, pressure being applied in direction ofthe arrow. As a result thereof, the conical surface 4 assumes the shapeshown in Fig. 3.

. The wire 5 is then removed from the tu leaving the latter as shown inFig. 4. A suitable withdrawal member such as thread 9, for example awell waxed or paraflined silk thread, having a shoulder 10 whichpreferably is in the ormiof a knot, is then inserted through theaperture 8. The thread 9 is then pulled in the direction of the arrowuntil the shoulder 10 abuts against the interior curved end wall of thetube 1. In this manner a permanent withdrawal member 9 is formed.

The seed, as shown in Fig. 6, may be charged with radium emanationthrough its open end and then closed.

A composite seed carrying a permanent withdrawal or removable member maybe prepared as indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The metal tube 1, shown inFig. 6, carrying any one-of the removable members hereinafter referredto, is placed in the work holder 2, as shown in Fi 7 and rotated aboutthe axis AA. Whi e rotating the end 15 the tube 1 is filed, as shown bydotted lines, to provide-a conical surface 16, as shown in Fig. 8.Thereafter, the work holder is stopped, and a glass emanation tube 18containing radium emanation is introduced into the bore of the tube 1,as shown in Fi 8. The burnisher 17 is then brought against the filed endof the metal tube 1 and the tube is rotated about the axis A-A, theburnisher being applied in the direction of the arrow. a result thereof,the conical surface 16 assumes the shape shown in Fig. 9, therebyproviding/a finished and removable seed having a permanent withdrawalmember ready for implantation in tissue through a seed implanter.

The withdrawal member '9 may be formed of any suitable material but, asindicated, a thread made of silk and well waxed or araflined ispreferred, satisfactory results aving been secured with the same.Instead of using a waxedor arafiined thread, a ermanent member, asollows, may be use (a) A flexible metal wire usin as a shoulder, a ballof fused metal at its end. (b) A flexible metal wire using as ashoulder, a hook at its end. (a) A flexible metal wire as part of theseed, soldered to its end. 3d) A flexible metal wire as part of the seethe metal tube. (e) A flexible metal wire as part of the seed thrustinto the metal tube. This may be accomplished by placing a platinum tubein a work holder and then, while the tube is rotating, filing its 0 enend. Thereafter a flexible metal wire wit a small hook about 1 mm. inlength is introduced into the bore of the tube for a distance of about.5 to 1 mm. A burnisher is then pressed sharply against the filed end ofthe tube so that the wire becomes embedded in the metal. In this mannerthe platinum is pressed around the wire and the contact made thereby issufliciently stron to enable the wire to withstand an appreciable pullthereon. This method of securing the wire to the tube is based on theproperty of platinum being soft and malleable.

When using a waxed or arafline'd withdrawal member, the shoul er or knot10 should be well ing an air-tig t closure when the knot is broughtagainst the curved end wall. As indicated, various equivalents of theparaflined thread may be used, provided they function to make thewithdrawal member resistant to decay when left in the tissue.

When a seed of the composite or non-com-.

posite type is placed in the tissue 19, the end of the tube 1 to whichthe thread-9 is attached is nearer the tissue surface 20 than the otherend 21 of the tube. Fig. 11, after the seed or tube 1 has been placedinthe tissue 19, the thread 9 appears above the tissue surface 20, comingout of the portal of entrance made in inserting the seed in the tissue.After suflicient time has araflined as this aids in form-.

As shown in soldered to elapsed to give the desired dosage of radia- 1 iwhareleimise I metal see 1-,. rh e 's of'm'aking'a aerate,

ing radium-emanation,comprising removing -metal fromgone end of thetube, forming a emanation through the open end, and then closing thetube to provide .a finished seed resistant to the escape of theradiumemanatio'n.

2'. The process of making a removable seed having a permanent withdrawalmember attached thereto, said seed containing radium emanation,comprising removing metal from one end of the tube, forming a reducedaperture at said end, said aperture being of a size suflicient' only toreceive a withdrawal member, providing an abutment at the end of thewithdrawal member, inserting the withdrawal member through the large endof the tube and against the walls of the reduced end, charging the tubewith radium emanation through the open end, and then closing the tube toprovide a finished seed resistant to the escape of the radium emanation.

3. The process of makin a removable seed havin a permanent with rawalmember attache thereto, said seed containing radium emanation,comprising forming a reduced aperture at one end of an open tube,inserting a sizing wire therein, closing the tube end around the sizingwire, withdrawing the sizing wire from the tube whereby a reducedaperture is formed of a size suflicient only to receive a withdrawalmember, providing an abutment at the end of the withdrawal member,inserting the withdrawal member first through the large end of the tubeand then through the small aperture of the tube until the abutment is intight engagement with the walls of the tube, charging the tube withradium emanation through the open end, and theg closing the tube toprovide a finished see a 4- The process of making a composite removableemanation seed consisting of a glass tube enclosed in a metal tube, thelatter being provided with a permanent withdrawal member, comprisingremoving metal from one end ofthe metal tube, forming a reduced apertureat said end, inserting a withdrawal member through the open end of thetube and then through the reduced end until said withdrawal member is intight engagement with closed metal tube, and thereafter reducing theopen end of the tube to provide a removable seed capable of absorbingthe undesirable rays radiating from the radium emanation. a

having va permanent withdrawal member attached thereto, said seedcontain- I 5. The process of making a composite 5- "movable, emanationseed consisting of a glass.

tube enclosed int-a metal tube'havingless metal at its ends than at itsintermediate port1on, comprisin removing a portion'of tlfe metal on oneo the ends of the metal tube, partiallyupsetting and closing said end topgovide an aperture adapted toreceive a withdrawal member in tightengagement with said partially n set enclosedend, in-

serting the withdrawa member through the open end of the tubeand thenthrough the reduced end to make a tight engagement therewith, insertingthe lass tube into the partially closed metal tu e,cand thereafter,

removin the metal from the open end of the metal tube and upsetting saidlatter open end to provide a closed removable metal tube having lessmetal at itsends'than at its inter mediate portion and capable ofabsorbing the undesirable rays radiating from the radium emanation.

6. The process of making a removable 4 metal seed having a permanentwithdrawal member attached thereto, said seed containing radiumemanation, comprising removing metal from one end of the tube, forming areduced aperture at said end to receive a withdrawal member resistant todecay, inserting the withdrawal member through the large end of the tubeand against the walls of the reduced end of thetube, charging the tubewith radium emanation through the open end, and then closing the tube toprovide a finished seed resistant to the escape of the radium emanation.

7. The process of making a removable metal seed having a permanentwithdrawal member attached thereto, said seed containing radiumemanation, comprising removing metal from one end of the tube, forming areduced aperture at said end to receive a silk withdrawal.

8. Theprocess of making a composite removable emanation seed consistingof a glass tube enclosed in a metal tube, the latter being provided witha permanent withdrawal member, comprising removing metal from one end ofthe metal tube, forming a reduced aperture at said end, inserting awithdrawal member resistant to decay through the open end of the tubeand thenthroughthe reduced end until said withdrawal member isin tightengagement with saidreduced end, inserting a glass tube containingradium emanation into the partially closed 'metal tube, and thereafterreducing the open endof the tube to provide a removable seed capable ofabaperture at said end, inserting a silk withdrawal member through the 0on end of the tube and then through the re uced end until saidwithdrawalmember is in tight'engagement with said reduced end, insertinga glass tube containing radium emanation into the partially closed metaltube, and thereafter reducing the 0 en endof the tube to provide aremovable see cagable of absorbmg the undesirable rays ra iating' fromthe radium emanation.

10. The process of making a removable seed having a permanent with rawalmember attached thereto, said seed containmg radium emanation, comprisinforming a reduced 1 aperture at one end'o an open tube, inserting asizin element therein, closing the tube end aroun the sizing element,withdrawing the sizing element from the tube whereby a reduced apertureis formedof a suflicient size only to receive a withdrawal member,providing an abutment at the end of the withdrawal member, inserting thewithdrawal member first through the large end of the tube and then throuh. the small aperture of the tube until the a utment is in tightengagement with the walls of the tube, charging the tube with radiumemanation through the open end, andl then closing the tube to provide afinished see l 11. The process of making a coin osite removable seedconsistin of a metaiiic outer tube adapted to filter o 'ectionable rays,an inner tube containing ra ium emanation and a permanent withdrawalmember comprising forming a reduced aperture at one end of. the

metallic tube, inserting a withdrawal member in said tube and adjacentsaid reduced aperture, inserting the inner tube in said outer tube, andthereafter removing the metal from glass inner tube-containin radiumemanation, anda ermanent wit drawal member,

comprisin orming I a reduced aperture at one end 0 the metal tube,inserting a withdrawal member at one end of the tube and ad- 'acent saidreduced aperture, inserting the inner tube in said outer tube, andclosing the latter to provide. a finished seed.

In testlmony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH MUIR.-

- the open end of the outer metal tube and upsetting. said latter openend to provide a closed removable composite seed.

' 12. The process of making a composite removable seed consistin of ametallic outer tube adapted to filter o jectionable rays, an inner tubecontaining radium emanation, and a permanent withdrawal member,comprising forming a reduced aperture at one end of the metallic tube,insertlng a withdrawal member in said tube and adjacent said reducedaperture, inserting the inner tube in said outer tube, and closing thelatter to provide a finished seed. v

. 13. The process of making a composite re-- movable seed consisting ofa platinum outer tube adapted to filter objectionable rays, a

